Not The Tree of Life. None of the actors had enough momentum to get a nod and if any actor could have gotten nominated for that film it would likely have been Brad Pitt. Terence Malick-directed performances just don’t ever seem to appeal to the Academy’s actors branch.

Seems to me like these threads should be about realistic options like Nicole Kidman or Leonardo DiCaprio or Kate Winslet. But since people are throwing out names of actors who were just elegible and acclaimed (or semi-acclaimed, or not at all):

Steve Carrell was talked about for either lead or supporting nods for both Battle of the Sexes and Last Flag Flying last year.

George Clooney for Syriana and Good Night, and Good Luck (he managed to get BAFTA nom for both)
Geoffrey Rush for Elizabeth and Shakespeare in Love
Jim Broadbent for Iris and Moulin Rouge!
Miranda Richardson for Damage and The Crying Game

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